CAS: Chemistry

CGS students pursuing the Chemistry major may contact Michelle Njoroge (mnjoroge@bu.edu), Assistant Director of Academic Advising at CAS, with any questions.

Students with questions about the Minor in Chemistry or who have inquiries about enrollment in Chemistry courses should contact the CAS Chemistry Department at chemuaa@bu.edu.

Upon completion of the CGS program, students must have earned credit towards the following 10 courses:

• Humanities: 3 courses
  • Choose two from CGS HU 103, CGS HU 201, or CGS HU 202
  • CGS HU 104*
• Natural Sciences: 2 courses**
  • CAS CH 109 and CAS CH 110
• Rhetoric: 2 courses
  • CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104*
• Social Sciences: 3 courses
  • Choose two from CGS SS 103, CGS SS 201, or CGS SS 202
  • CGS SS 104*

*Required course taken during the Summer term.
**Chemistry majors in good standing are exempt from CGS NS 201 and NS 202 and will complete the CGS Natural Science requirement through the General Chemistry 1 and 2 sequence. Please note that students who are exempt from CGS NS 202 must enroll in at least one CGS course in Term 2 of sophomore year.

The Chemistry major requires a minimum of eleven 4-credit courses in chemistry, as well as three math and two physics 4-credit courses. All required chemistry courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher to count toward the major. For required courses, please see the CAS Bulletin.

The Chemistry department recommends that students complete CAS CH 109 and CAS CH 110 to meet the core general chemistry requirement. Alternatively, students with a minimal chemistry background may decide to complete CAS CH 101, CAS CH 102, and CAS CH 201 (2.0 units, offered spring and summer) to complete their core general chemistry sequence. Students following this alternate general chemistry track are encouraged to complete orgoprep over the summer and prepare to take CAS CH 211 and CAS CH 212, or CAS CH203 and CAS CH 214 for the core organic chemistry requirement. Students who complete CAS CH 203 and CAS CH 204 must also take CAS CH 220 (2.0 units, offered spring and summer).

For more information about the major, please see the Chemistry Department webpage. 

The Chemistry Department also offers specializations in Chemical Biology and Materials & Nanoscience as well as a joint major in Chemistry & Physics.

• Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
• Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00

Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements. 

• BU Hub requirements
  • Students who take the specific CGS courses noted on the pathway above will fulfill all BU Hub requirements except the requirements listed below. These remaining Hub requirements will be fulfilled through the following courses:
    • Creativity/Innovation (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS CH212
    • Quantitative Reasoning I (1 requirement) and Quantitative Reasoning II (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS PY 211 and CAS PY 212
    • Scientific Inquiry I (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS CH 203
    • Teamwork/Collaboration (2 requirements) fulfilled by CAS PY 211 and CAS PY 212
    • Writing-Intensive Course (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS CH 421
  • You will fulfill the remaining Hub requirement,  Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, through the CAS second language requirement or through an additional elective of your choosing.
• CAS requirements:
  • Second Language requirement
  • Natural Sciences Laboratory requirement*
• Chemistry major requirements
• CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.

*Note: The CAS Natural Sciences Laboratory Requirement is met through completion of College of General Studies Program of Study.